After the article was published, the new mom's surgeon called to admit that the teen, introduced prior to the surgery as an "assistant," had handled a scalpel and assisted in the operation.

“I thought it was a medical student practicing patient contact, something that you do early on in your medical training," the mother explained to The Sydsvenskan as translated by The Local. "This is a university hospital so one must be prepared to meet students.”

According to The Local, the teenager was participating in a work experience program common to middle schools in Sweden. In addition to her role in the operating room, she also assisted in a separate delivery and performed a vaginal examination on a third patient.